Matatiele road construction underway

MATATIELE Local Municipality mayor Momelezi Mbedla has confirmed to the Fever that the construction of roads in Matatiele commenced on Monday.

The announcement comes after community members held protests over the state of the roads recently.

The gravel roads between Maluti and Mzongwana, Khoapa and Mariazell and Sam Kerk and Ongeluksnek have been made a priority and construction of roads will be monitored by a steering committee led by Mbedla.

Violent protests were seen in the past two weeks and three government vehicles and offices were torched when people demanded the construction of roads. Matatiele town was also shut down as people protested to have graders and excavators go on site.

As part of addressing concerning roads in the area, Eastern Cape MEC for Transport Weziwe Tikana met stakeholders protest leaders in Matatiele on August 21 where a resolution to end protest action was taken.

“The construction of roads will be closely monitored by community members,” said Mokiti Lepheana, who is one of the steering committee members who will oversee the project.